The history of Indian badminton is often measured in decades, not years. Not since Dinesh Khanna stood atop the podium in 1965 has an Indian man claimed the Badminton Asia Championships singles crown. On Sunday in Ningbo, Ayush Shetty, a towering youngster who arrived in China as a dark horse and leaves it as a history-maker, stands one match away from ending that 61-year drought.
His final obstacle is a formidable one: China’s World No. 2, Shi Yu Qi. On paper, the odds lean toward the veteran; Shetty trails their head-to-head 0-2. Yet, the statistics tell only half the story. Their last encounter at the Malaysia Open in January saw Shetty push the Chinese maestro to three grueling games (21-18, 18-21, 21-12), a performance that hinted at a closing gap.
START TIME AND STREAMING DETAILS
The men’s singles final between Ayush Shetty and Shi Yu Qi will get underway in Ningbo at around 3:30 pm local time, 1 pm IST. The live-streaming of the match will be available on Badminton Asia’s Facebook page. There will be no telecast of the match in India.
Quick Byte: 6ft 4in-tall Ayush Shetty, a fan of Viktor Axelsen, hails from Karkala, Karnataka. He trains alongside PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen at the Centre for Excellence in Bengaluru, formerly known as the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy. Ayush is currently the second-highest ranked Indian men’s singles shuttler at No. 25, behind Lakshya Sen (No. 12).
Also Read: Tall, fierce and focused: Ayush Shetty reminds Viktor Axelsen of his younger self
THE GIANT KILLER IN NINGBO
Ayush Shetty’s journey to the final has been a demolition derby of the world’s elite. After beating Li Shi Feng, World No. 7, in straight games (21-13, 21-16), Ayush got the big win over Jonathan Christie in the quarterfinal. Ayush showed flashes of his improved ability to close out tough situations when he staved off Christie’s push to win the opening game 23-21 before taking the match in straight games.
However, it was his semifinal victory over the reigning World No. 1 and top seed, Kunlavut Vitidsarn, that sent shockwaves through the Axiata Arena.
The match began with Vitidsarn dictating proceedings, his trademark deceptive net play and superior pace leaving Shetty looking sluggish, according to coach Vimal Kumar. The opening game was a 10-21 blowout that suggested a short afternoon for the Indian.
But Shetty, a player whose consistency has often been questioned in the past, found a new gear. He adjusted his tempo, stayed low in defense, and began to match the Thai star’s intensity from the baseline. After snatching the second game 21-19, the decider became a physical battle of attrition. Despite appearing physically exhausted, Shetty leaned into his offensive arsenal. At 17-17 in the third, he reeled off four consecutive points, sealing a 10-21, 21-19, 21-17 victory with a thunderous down-the-line smash.
Coach Vimal Kumar, speaking to IndiaToday.in, said that the victory over Vitidsarn was as much a mental triumph as a physical one.
“He handled all the crucial moments exceptionally well and clearly got into Kunlavut’s mind,” Vimal Kumar said.
“In the second game, after building a lead, Ayush showed a touch of anxiety, but he responded brilliantly with a decisive down-the-line smash. In the decider, even when physically exhausted, his steep, powerful smashes turned the match. What stands out most is his composure. He is handling pressure situations remarkably well.”
A GENERATIONAL TALENT?
This resurgence follows a frustrating start to 2026. After winning the US Open last year, Shetty’s progress was halted by a back injury. First-round exits at the India Open, Indonesia Masters, and the All England suggested a long road back. Yet, something has clicked in Ningbo.
Much of this turnaround can be traced back to the Centre for Excellence in Bengaluru. Two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu, who has been training alongside Shetty over the last month, sees a player finally matching his physical gifts with mental fortitude.
“I have consistently maintained that he is a generational talent. In terms of pure natural ability, he stands right up there with the very best young players I have come across. There is a prodigious level of talent in him, and it is something you immediately recognize when you see him on court,” Sindhu said in a post on X on Saturday.
“He has been training in my training group for the past three weeks along with coach Irwan, and this period has only reinforced my belief in his potential. Physically he has a strong presence on court. His height gives him excellent reach, and he already possesses a very deep, heavy smash that can put opponents under serious pressure. What also stands out is his defensive instinct. He stays very low, reads the shuttle well, and shows a natural ability to absorb pressure in rallies,” she added.
“What has been particularly encouraging over these last three weeks is his attitude. He has trained with great seriousness alongside me, Coach Irwan, and the extended team, and the early signs of progress are already beginning to show.”
Standing tall and powerful, Shetty has long idolized Viktor Axelsen. Like the Danish great, Shetty relies on a deep, heavy smash that puts opponents under immediate duress. But in this tournament, it is his defensive composure—the ability to stay in rallies longer than expected—that has turned the tide.
THE FINAL TEST
Against Shi Yu Qi, Shetty faces a master of tempo and court craft. While Shi enjoyed a breezy straight-games win in his semifinal, Shetty enters the final battle-hardened by three-game marathons.
To win, Shetty must maintain the defensive instinct Sindhu praised while ensuring his smash remains sharp enough to pierce Shi’s elite defense. The back-to-back victories over Li, Christie, and Vitidsarn have proven that Shetty no longer just belongs at this level, he can dominate it.
Whether he can emulate Dinesh Khanna’s 1965 feat remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the “prodigious talent” tag has been replaced by the reality of a world-class contender. For Ayush Shetty, the final in Ningbo might be the moment he truly arrives.
– Ends
